Seabee

English

Etymology

Spelling of the initials CB, for construction battalion, with the spelling probably influenced by the words sea (patrolled by the Navy) and bee (a symbol of industriousness).

Noun

Seabee (plural Seabees)

  1. (US military) A construction battalion of the United States Navy, responsible for building, bulldozing, etc.
    • 1971 January 20, “Seabee Unit in Charleston”, in The New York Times‎, page 15:
      The Navy is establishing a new Construction Battalion, or Seabee, unit in Charleston, S. C., Senator Strom Thurmond, Republican of South Carolina, said today.
  2. A member of this force.
    • 1945 August 26, “Seabee Battalion Returns”, in The New York Times‎, page 4:
      The Sixty-third Naval Construction Battalion, 15 per cent of which is composed of World War I veterans, arrived here today. The group, which includes 741 Seabees, will be processed for thirty-day leaves before reassignment, the Navy announced.

Translations

Further reading
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